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Board opens research on 'Lake Reed' proposal in Denver after questions about permanence and ownership
Summary
The board introduced USBGN case 6084 to name a 1.5-acre reservoir 'Lake Reed' in the City and County of Denver, then voted to move the proposal into a research phase after members raised questions about whether the feature is a man‑made retention/detention pond, who owns it, and whether the name is in wide local use.
The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board opened USBGN case 6084, a proposal to name a 1.5-acre reservoir in the City and County of Denver "Lake Reed," and voted to place the nomination into a research phase.
Deputy Director Tim Mok summarized the submission: the proponent, identified as Alexander Mendieta, said the name refers to reeds that grow in the feature adjacent to Frontier Airlines’ headquarters and that employees have used the name for roughly three years. Staff noted the U.S. Board on Geographic Names received the proposal in June 2023 and that no official response from the city and county of Denver or from tribal offices had been recorded in the packet.
Board members and staff raised questions about the feature’s origin and permanence. Multiple members who reviewed historical aerial imagery and topographic maps said the feature appears to be a constructed retention or detention pond associated with stormwater management and industry development; Google Earth imagery suggested the feature was created roughly between 2009–2011 and can be seasonally dry.
Jenny Runyon, a former U.S. Board on Geographic Names staffer who attended the meeting, advised that USBGN policy allows naming man-made retention features and that "Lake" is not strictly limited to natural water bodies; she recommended securing confirmation that the name is not commemorative (i.e., not a person’s name) and that local government review is important.
The board voted to move the proposal into a research phase to gather additional evidence, including city ownership records (a board member reported the land is owned by the City and County of Denver), confirmation from the Denver American Indian Commission, documentation of local use beyond the proponent’s statement, and comparable precedent research on naming man-made retention features in GNIS. Stacy Coleman volunteered to contact the Denver commission; Jill Carlson and other members offered follow-up map and archival checks. The board agreed the research will inform whether the nomination proceeds to final consideration.
